A member of the Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia carries a Quran during a protest.

VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Plans by a small evangelical church in
Gainesville, Fla., to publicly burn copies of the Islamic holy book, the
Quran, represent "an outrageous and grave gesture," said the Vatican's
interreligious council.

The minister at the Florida church said that despite worldwide
condemnation of the plan, he would host an "International Burn-a-Quran
Day" on Sept. 11, the ninth anniversary of terrorist attacks on the
United States at the hands of Islamic extremists.

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue said Sept. 8 in a
written statement that "it received with great concern the news of the
proposed 'Quran Burning Day.'"

The "deplorable acts of violence" demonstrated on 9/11 "cannot be
counteracted by an outrageous and grave gesture against a book
considered sacred by a religious community," it said.

Every religion has the right to have its books, places of worship and
symbols be respected and protected, it said. Respect should be shown to
religious believers and their freedom to believe, it added.

In fact, all religious leaders and believers are called to condemn all
forms of violence, especially when committed in the name of religion, it
said. Violence in the name of religion is a "perversion" of the
teachings of the major religions and using violence to respond to an
offense can never be justified, said the council.

The anniversary of 9/11 should be a moment "to offer our deep sentiments
of solidarity with those who were struck by these horrendous terrorists
attacks," it said.